Device for stretching wire or raising wagon-beds



No Model.)

a J. MARKE L, DEVICE FOR STRETOHING WIRE 0R RAISING WAGON BEDS. No. 421,295. Patented Feb. 11, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

J OIIN MARKEL, OF MONTIOELLO, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR STRETCHING WIRE OR RAISING WAGON-BEDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,295, dated. February 11, 1890.

Application filed October 9, 1889. Serial No. 326,438 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MARKEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monticello, in the county of Piatt and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Device for Stretching Wire or Raising VVagon- Beds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a device for stretching wire and raising wagon-beds; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device arranged to raise a wagon-bed.

Fig. 2 is a similar View showing it arranged as a wire-stretcher.

In carrying out my invention I employ a body or bar A, to one end of which I secure a broad hook B, as clearly shown. Near the opposite end of the body I mount transversely therein the L-shaped rod or hook 0, having its extremity threaded, and on said threaded extremity I mount a thumb-nut D, which is adapted to be turned up against the body A, as shown I also mount on the body A a spool or windlass E, which is provided with a lover or handle F at its outer end and with a ratchet-disk G at its inner end, the said ratchet-disk being engaged by a pawl H,pivoted on the body.

WVhen it is desired to raise a wagon-bed, the hook B is engaged under the crossbar at the end of the wagon-bed, and the hook or L- shaped rod 0 is then clamped over the upper edge of the end-gate, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A rope is then secured to the front end of the wagon bed and passed over pulleys (not shown) arranged a suitable distance above the bed, after which it is brought downward and secured to the Windlass The Windlass is then rotated, and the rope will thus be wound on the Windlass, and consequently shortened, so that the wagon-bed will be raised. The pawl H, engaging the ratchetdisk, prevents backward movement of the same, so that the wagonbed will be held at any height to which it may be raised.

When it is desired to use the device as a wire-stretcher, the hook B- is engaged around the fence-post, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and a rope secured to the Windlass and provided at its free end with a clamp, which engages the fence-wire. The hook G is then turned so as to engage over the said rope and hold the same in a horizontal position,after which the Windlass is turned as before, thereby stretching the wire.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple device, by means of which wagon-beds may be raised and fence-wires stretched with very little labor. I

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the body, the hook B, secured to one end of the same, the L- shaped rod mounted in the other end of the body, the thnmb-nut mounted on said rod'and adapted to bind against the body, the windlass mounted on the body and provided with a ratchet-disk at its inner end, and the pawl pivoted 011 the body and engaging the said ratchet-disk, as specified.

2. The plain body A, the rigid L-shaped hook B, secured to the same and extending therefrom in the same direction, the L-shaped rod 0, journaled in the body and having the thumb-nut D and a Windlass E with the pawl and ratchet mounted on the body between the two hooks, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN MARKEL. 

